Army assistant detachment commander shot dead in Rizal, 3 suspects arrested

A 35-year-old assistant detachment commander of Philippine Army was shot dead by three members of the CAFGU Active Auxiliary he scolded for drinking liquor at their in camp in Rodriguez, Rizal.

In an exclusive report on Unang Balita Thursday, GMA Integrated News' EJ Gomez said the victim, a member of the 80th Infantry Battalion of the 21st Division of Philippine Army and assistant detachment commander of Patrol Base Macaingalan in Barangay Puray, Rodriguez, Rizal, was found dead before dawn Wednesday.

Investigation conducted by the Rodriguez Police showed the incident happened past 8 p.m., Tuesday when the victim was about to admonish again the suspects he scolded earlier for drinking liquor. 

The suspects used the firearms issued to them by the government.

“Bago ho niya sitahan, pinaputukan na po siya ng issued firearms ng suspek. 'Yung ginamit na baril ng ating suspek is 'yung issued firearms niya na M16 at sa dalawa po ginamit rin sa pagpapaputok ang kanilang issued firearms na M14. Marami hong tama ng bala, halos buong magazine,” Police Lt. Col. Arwyn Gaffud, Rodriguez Police chief, said.

“May mga insidente po na sinita ng assistant detachment commander 'yung suspek, makailang araw at siyempre dinisiplina, binigyan po ng punishment as part of the infraction na ginawa nung CAA, 'yun po kinimkim po siguro 'yung pagdidisiplina sa kaniya, sama ng loob, at nagkaroon ng pagkakataon dahil base sa imbestigasyon lumalabas na under the influence of liquor po 'yung supek, so 'yun binaril po 'yung biktima,” he added.

Police said the colleagues of the suspects witnessed the incident and reported it.

The suspects were found in their house sleeping after drinking liquor. Seized from them were the government-issued firearms allegedly used to kill the victim.

One of the suspects, 27, who allegedly directly fired at the victim apologized for the incident saying he did not intend to kill their assistant detachment commander. 

"Di man sana 'yun sinasadya ma’am. Ang gusto niya rin kasi mangyari ma’am, ipaalam sa kaniya 'yung pag-iinom. Lasing din siyang nagsabi, nag-iinom din siya. Nabigla lang po ma’am. Hindi naman talaga target ma’am,” he said.

“Sobrang nagsisisi talaga ma’am. Humihingi ako ng taos-pusong pasensiya sa nangyari na hindi naman kagustuhan,” he added.

Another suspect said he thought they were being harassed so he fired his gun.

“Kasi akala namin hinarass 'yung kampo kaya kami nagpaputok," he said.

The other suspect said he thought there were enemies attacking them.

“Akala ko may kalaban po kaya nagpaputok ako pero dun lang sa loob ng kubo ko rin, nakadapa lang ako kasi takot nga akong makalabas. Bandang alas-dos ng madaling araw, dun ko nalaman na meron palang natamaan at saka sinabi ng kasama namin, 'yung second commander namin ('yung namatay), kaya blangko ako sa mga pangyayari na 'yun kung sino ba ang tumira," he said

The suspects are now detained at the Rodriguez Police Custodial Facility. They will be facing charges for murder and illegal discharge of firearms.—AOL, GMA Integrated News